Startup Conditions
During startup, high condensate loads are
created when steam condenses after encoun-
tering cool piping and equipment. At the same
time, the high condensing rate leaves little
steam pressure in the piping. If the system is
well designed, gravity pulls condensate into
the drip leg. On supervised startups, a valve is Concentric Reducer Coupling
manually opened to drain and gravity alone is
adequate to drain condensate.
On automatic startups, however, there may sate stream is allowed to build to sufficient Fig. 2. An eccentric reduc-
not be sufficient differential pressure to pro- levels in the pipe, waves are formed on the er precludes the forming of
vide flow through a steam trap orifice. In surface by gases passing above at a relatively a condensate pool that can
these cases, the drip leg must be sufficiently high velocity. These waves can rise and block form behind a concentric
long to provide the necessary static head the entire pipe. With system pressure reducer.
(dimension H, Fig. 3) to push condensate upstream of this slug, and collapsing steam
through the trap. downstream, the slug is accelerated in the
There are applications where condensate pipe and can reach velocities as high as 90
must be lifted. The drip leg must provide mph. A great deal of damage can be done to
ample volume for water to accumulate until piping and equipment when a slug is forced to
there is sufficient pressure to elevate conden- stop or change direction. Fig. 3. Typical trap-drain-
sate to the level of the return (about 1 psi for ing drip leg is installed on
every 2 ft of lift). Entrained Flow Conditions steam main. Values forM, D,
If the system is not properly drained, it In low-load, high-velocity service, most of and H are provided in the
takes an excessive amount of time to reach the condensate is picked up by the passing gas table on the next page.
operating temperature, increasing operating
costs. Insufficient drainage during startup can
result in live steam being injected into pock- Trap Draining Drip Leg
ets of cool condensate, creating thermal
shock, a form of water hammer.
THOMAS J. GRUBKA, Senior Application Engineer, Armstrong International, Inc., Three Rivers, MI
t first glance it would seem that creat- Piping, "Suitable drains or drips shall be pro-
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Water Pocket